REVIEW: The Adventures Of Tintin

This is coming from one who had never read the original comic books by Belgian artist Georges Rémi aka Hergé or seen any of the cartoons, but because there are so many ground-breaking aspects within the film including entire motion-capture effects and it was made by perhaps two of the greatest filmmakers in history, expectations were high. So, there were exceedingly high expectations and as a result, it turned out a very entertaining and visually stunning film with superb performances, direction and screenplay. If you’re a huge fan of the original comic books and cartoons, you will not be disappointed. On the other hand, it perhaps isn’t a requirement to watch/read the original before watching this.

The greatest concept that The Adventures of Tintin consists of are, as predicted, the jaw-dropping and magnificent visual effects. Out of the motion-capture animated films that we have seen over the years including A Christmas Carol, The Polar Express and from live-action films also, in The Adventures Of Tintin literally could not look any more realistic! Plus, the fact it was filmed in 3D is a huge bonus. The main objective of the film is adventure, and having said that the dialogue is full of it and is all-round entertaining, we are taken on another adventure witnessing some of the greatest effects that have ever been put onto film that will be very tough to overcome in the near future.

Jamie Bell, who became of the most famous child actors after his unbelievably mesmerising performance in Billy Elliot rises and shines now as a grown man and delivers another fantastic performance once more as Tintin. Bell previously collaborated with producer Peter Jackson in his epic re-telling of King Kong, but has more involvement in this one and provides many different viewpoints of the Tintin character. He adds an innocence and rather sensitive side who unluckily gets involved, but at the same time he tallies a courageous and heroic side also where the mission means a lot to him. Therefore, his return in the upcoming sequels will be a very exciting build-up and will hopefully improve even more. Andy Serkis, the actor who has perhaps had the most and longest history with motion-capture, including Gollum/Sméagol, King Kong and Caesar (Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes) proves once more that he is the star of the show as both Captain Haddock and Sir Francis Haddock (the Captain’s ancestor) and how much of an extraordinary yet marvellous actor he really is. In fact, although we all know it is Serkis playing Haddock, it was very hard to identify Andy Serkis in the role because the character felt and looked so real! Serkis has yet to receive an Academy Award nomination, but he really needs one and hopefully he will gain one soon!

Throughout the films that they have starred in together and perhaps become the best on-screen duo of this generation (Hot Fuzz, Shaun Of The Dead, Paul), Simon Pegg and Nick Frost were the added bit of British spice into the American/New Zealand made motion picture as the detectives Thompson and Thomson. Within their voices, it was difficult to recognize which one was Pegg and which one was Frost, as well as because the two were literally identical. So for that reason, together they accomplished presenting the rather unorthodox and unique individuals for their occupations and involvement in the mission. Daniel Craig portrayed both antagonists within the film of both the past and present tense, and quite frankly it was even harder to identify Craig in the role as well. It is especially a very different role for him, but the other actors express something genuinely different too.

From that ensemble cast, the majority of them had collaborated in previous films with the director, producer and co-writer (Edgar Wright), so they all merged together and defined something extraordinarily new. The Adventures Of Tintin became Steven Spielberg’s first directed film since Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull, and has had his eyes on a film adaptation of the Tintin comics ever since 1983. It is also his very first animated film and when looking at it, it’s very different to anything he had done before. However, that adventurous feeling that we get with the majority of Spielberg films is still there and this certainly proves that he was the man for the job to start off this trilogy. An even bigger bonus was Peter Jackson as producer! Let’s face it, you simply cannot go wrong with a film that perhaps two of the greatest filmmakers in history are together working on! Just by watching it, you can immediately identify that it is part of Peter Jackson as well! Plus, the fact that he will be directing the sequel and the third film possibly being co-directed by Spielberg and Jackson, the anticipation is huge! Three acclaimed screenwriters collaborated on the screenplay of The Adventures Of Tintin (Edgar Wright, Joe Cornish and Steve Moffat) all write perhaps the most extraordinary screenplay by mixing three of the comics – The Crab With The Golden Claws, The Secret Of The Unicorn and Red Rackham’s Treasure into a 107 minute duration that begins and ends so creatively and excitedly. Therefore, they deserve an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay as does Spielberg for Best Director.

Overall, The Adventures Of Tintin is an absolutely fantastic film with mind-blowing effects that really is worth seeing in 3D! Only Spielberg and Jackson could have possibly pulled this off and made it the huge success it has become, and for that reason, it perhaps isn’t a requirement to see the original cartoons and/or read the original comics first. However, if you’re a fan who has watched/read them, you really will not be disappointed by the feature film! The anticipation for the upcoming sequels is incredibly high and they’ll have to work really hard if they are to try and beat this one!